Air cleaner



Aug. 21, 1945.l

2 Sheets-Sheet l AIR CLEANER W. O. BECHMAN Filed 0G12. 26, 1942 PatentedAug. 21, 1945 assai am CLEANER William o. Beekman, chicago, nl.,assigner to International Harvester Company, a corporation of New Jerseyt Application October 26, .1942., Serial No. 463,352

(Cl. 220-55l Claims.

This invention has to do with air cleaners of the iilter type or thelike and relates more particularly to a novel ystructure for detachablysecuring parts thereof in assembly.

The .general object of this invention is the provision, in an air filterdevice having a casing with cover members for oppositely disposed casingopenings, of an improved simplified structure for securing the covermembers against accidental displacement from their openings and of auchmanipulative character that the cover members are quickly andconveniently assembled or removed from the casing as desired.

Another object is the provision oi' a releasable retaining means for thecasing cover members c that accommodates successive removal thereofwhereby one may -be removed to permit inspection within a desired partof the casing without loosening the second cover member.

A further object is the provision of such a cover member securingstructure in which holding parts for the second cover member are manip"-ulative at portions thereof exposed by virtue of the casing opening ofthe one cover member, when the latter is removed, for releasing thesecond cover member; and conversely in which structure said manipulativeportions for releasing the second cover member are enclosed and guardedby the one cover member when it is in closing relation with its casingopening.

Still a further object of the invention is the provision in a newretaining means for a bottom filter-bath receptacle detachably incovering relation with a lower filter casing opening, of a rodprojecting upwardly through the casing where it is accessible for eivingan end thrust instrumental in pressing he receptacle from said casingopening.

These and other desirable objects inherent to and encompassed by theinvention will be better understood from the ensuing descriptiontogether with the annexed drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a filter unit with a form of theinvention embodied into its structure, side wall portions of the casingI being broken away and other parts of the unit being show'n incross-section for clarity;

Figure 2 is an exploded view of the filter unit illustrating variousdetachably associated parts in side elevation;

Figure 3 is a top view of the filter unit; and

Figure 4 is a view taken from above showing one of two pivotal elementscomprising part of a holding means of the invention.

While the invention may be employed upon the various forms of filterdevices or units, itis particularly useful upon air filters forfiltering the air of internal combustion engines, and, therefore, theinvention is herein illustrated in a preferred form upon such a filterdevice.

The filter device shown in the drawing comprises a sheet metal casing I0that is substantially cylindrical. An upper end opening I I of suchcasing is shown closed by a cover member I2 having a dependingcylindrical flange I3 of which the lower end is adapted to seatexteriorly about an upturned lip portion I4 bounding the opening It willbe observed that the cover member I2 projects outwardly from the planeof the opening II to enclose an additional space axially alignedtherewith. In a general sense the opening may be regarded as includingsaid space.

VIhe lower end of the casing I0 is closed by a cover member I5 whichconstitutes a receptacle for an oil bath as is well understood in theart, said receptacle cover member I5 having a cylindrical side wall I6telescopically associated with the lower end portion of the casing. Thedistance the receptacle cover member is slidable onto the casing islimited by abutment of the upper end of the cylindrical wall I6 with aflange I'I extending radially outwardly from a band I8 secured to andcircumscribing the casing side wall.

The casing includes a perforated side wall portion I9 adjacentlyy to itsupper end. Some of these perforations are illustrated at 2 I, althoughit will be understood that similar perforations exist throughout theentire expanse of the wall portion I9. Said wall I9 bounds an air intakechamber 22 into which air is drawnthrough the perforations 2 I. An airintake tube 23 disposed coaxially with the casing I0 communicates withthe chamber 22 through a central opening 24 in a. bottom wall 25 of suchchamber. and the lower end of the tube 23 communicates with thereceptacle cover member l5. Air drawn into the device through theperforations 2| and passing down-y thereabove enclosed by the covermember I2, thel opening 29 may be considered to include the spacetherebelow convered or enclosed by the axially projecting cover memberI5. Said bottom member 26 supports a stack oi' annular filter elements3| which may be of any conventional type. The filtered air escapes fromthe upper end of the filter passage 21 through an annular space 32formed between flanged annuli 33 and 34 secured respectively to the tube23 and to a vertical wall portion 35 of the casing I0. Thus, the air infiltered condition ultimately reaches an annular chamber 36 of which thegreater portion is bounded by said lvertical wall portion 35 and acasing wall portion 31, and from this chamber the filtered air isdischarged from the device through holes 36, Figure 3, in said wallportion 31. Flangelike coupling members 33 are connected with the casingwall in respective coaxial relation with the openings 38 to facilitatethe attachment of conduit means (not shown) to the casing communicatablywith said openings for directing the filtered air to the desired placefor its use as to a carbureter.

I'he filter device just described is not new. As for its operation, itwill suice to say that air to be filtered is drawn 'thereinto throughthe perforations 2| into the cham-ber 22. thence downwardly through thetube 23, upwardly through the filter units 3| in the annular filterchamber 21, then through the annular space 32 at the upper end of theiilter chamber. into the chamber 36 and outwardly of the device throughthe casing side wall openings 38 and spaces surrounded by the flanges39. A body of oil (not shown) within the receptacle cover member I5tends to seek a common level within those portions of the receptaclethat are respectively within and without the cuplike baille member 26because oi' holes 4I in said baule member. The air stream directeddownwardly through the tube 23 onto the oil within the baille member 26carries part of such oil with it as it is directed upwardly through thefilter elements 3| and thereby keeps these filter elements moistenerifor enabling them to operate efilciently as dirt collectors. Excess oilon the filter elements trickles downwardly therefrom into that portionof the receptacle I5 that is exterior of the baiiie member 26 andrecirculates into the baille member through said holes 4|.

The invention relates to apparatus now to be described for holding thecover member I2 and the receptacle cover member I5 detachably inassociation with the casing I in the manner shown in Figure 1. A rod 42arranged coaxially within the tube 23 serves as a tension member forholding the cover members I2 and I5 in place upon their respective endsof the casing. The lower end of said rod is threaded at 43 for coactionwith a cap nut 44 which is mounted within a central opening in thebottom of the receptacle cover member I5. This cap nut is securednon-rotatively to said cover member. The upper end of said rod 42 has areduced diameter portion 45 on which there is a. set of screw threads 46onto which there is turnable a cap nut 41 for holding the cover memberI2 in position upon the casing I0. Below the threaded section 46 on saidreduced end portion 45 of the rod 42 there is fixed a flange-like knob50 in non-rotative relation with respect to said rod so that thecircular periphery of said knob may be conveniently engaged as by thefinger-tips for rotating the rod. An inverted seat member 48 is securedbetween the lower end of the knob 50 and the shoulder 49 on the 'rod toeffect an annular seat 5| between a circular flange 52 on the member 48and said rod. This seat cooperates with a rod supporting" or holdingmeans 53 which comprises split collar portions 54 adapted tocomplementally embrace that section of the rod adjacently below the seatmember 48 and to dispose their upper ends into the seat 5|.

Said semicylindrical split collar members I4 are pivotally supportedupon pairs of brackets 55 by means of pivot plns 56 journaled inapertured ears 51 of said brackets and pairs of arms 58 connecting thesplit sleeve members with their respectively associated pins 56. Thebrackets 55 are fixed upon the bottom wall 25 of the air intake chamber22.

During service of a filter unit of the present class, there is atendency for dirt particles to collect upon the side Walls of the airpassages leading to or preceding the actual filtering units 3|; that is,there is an accumulation of dirt upon the side walls of the intakechamber 22 and of the vertical tube 23. 'I'his accumulation of foreignmatter is augmented by the fact that some of the oil from the receptaclecover member I5 is splashed onto the tube 23 and because of its lowsurface tension it creeps upwardly first onto the walls of said tube 23and of the chamber 22 and then onto the layer of the accumulated foreignmatter. The accumulation is particularly rapid when the filter unit isemployed in such installations as upon tractors where a cloud of dust isfrequently incurred in the atmosphere ambient to the tractor engine.Under these circumstances periodic inspection of the air intake chamber22 and of the tube 23 is imperative so that the dirt can be removedbefore accumulating in amounts causing material impairment to theoperation of the device.

Such periodic inspections of the device are encouraged when access forinspection is convenient. With the present apparatus the cover member I2is readihr removed simply by manually unscrewing the cap nut 41 from theupper end of the rod 42. Thereafter the cover I2 is removable from theupper end of the casing to provide access through the casing opening IIfor the removal of any foreign matter that may have collected within thechamber 22 and the tube 23. While the cover I2 is removed, the level ofthe oil in the receptacle cover member I5 may be observed through thetube 23. Should the oil level `be correct and no other servicing berequired that would necessitate the removal of the receptacle covermember I5, the cover member I2 will simply be replaced onto the casingI0 and clamped into place by the nut 41, following the inspection.

On the other hand, while the cover member I2 is removed, should it beapparently necessary to remove the receptacle cover member, as for thedischarge therefrom of accumulated dirt, this is accomplished bygripping the circular periphery of the knob 50 as by the finger-tips forrotating such knob and the rod 42. When there is no obstruction beneaththe receptacle cover member I5, such as a. part of the engine block,accessories attached thereto or brackets for such accessories, such asindicated at A" in -Figure 2, the procedure is expedited simply byrotating the rod 42 in the threaded cap nut 44 sufficiently to raise thefiange 52 on the said member 46 above the upper ends of the splitcollars 54 whereby the arms 58 carrying said split collar members can bepivoted about the journals of the pins 56 in the apertured bracket ears51 to the pivoted position illustrated in Figure 2. Thus, clearance isprovided for the knob 50 so that said knob and the rod 42 may bevdisplaced downwardly with the receptacle cover member i pursuant tosliding the latter from its assembly with the casing I0. Downward forcemay be applied to the upper 4end of the rod 42 and/or to the knob 50 fordisrod 4,2, so that the procedure in removing said receptacle covermember under these conditions is to rotate the vknob 50 and said rod forcompletely detaching the threaded section 43 of said rod from the capnut 44 as shown in Figure 2. Following this step, the rod 42 may belifted upwardly for carrying its lower end portion out od horizontalalinement with the receptacle cover member, wherefore the latter may bewithdrawn laterally from the space between the lower end of the casingand the obstruction A," preparatory to pouring o the oil and dumping thesludge therefrom.

Reassemibly of the receptacle cover member I5 with the casing merelyinvolves a reversal of the above described steps relating to thedetachment and the removal of said memlber from the casing.

It will be noted that the parts for detachably locking the receptaclecovering member I5 in assembly with the casing are enclosed within the lcasing when the cover member I2 is in place, thus giving the exterior ofthe casing an improved appearance. There is the additional advantage inhaving said retaining parts for the member Il within the casing thatsaid casing may be mounted upon an engine block without regard toproximity of other accessory apparatus along its side walls since accessto this side wall for servicing the device is unnecessary. Furthermore,the parts for supporting the rod 42 and the knob 50 :by means of whichrotative force is applied to said rod are exposed within convenientaccess for manipulation by virtue of the casing top opening Il when thecover member i2 is removed.

While I have shown and described but a single preferred embodiment, itshould be understood that many changes may be made in the construction,details and arrangement of the parts without 4departing from the spiritand scope of the present invention or sacrificing all of the advantagesthereof.

What is claimed is:

1. In an air filter structure including a casing wherein there areopposite end openings, and cover members respectively for and removablyassociated with said openings; means forreleasably retaining one of saidcover members in such association with its one of said openings bypreventing outward movement thereof from such opening, comprising anelongated member having an end D0rtion connected with said one covermember and projecting therefrom axially in said casing, and holdingmeans within the casing adjacently to the other cover member andreleasably connectible between a portion of the casing and saidelongated member to hold the latter other of said openings when itscover member is removed.v

2. In an air filter structure including a casing wherein there areopposite end openings, and cover menibers respectively for and removablyyassociated with said openings; means for releasably retaining one ofsaid cover members in such association with its one of said openings bypreventing outward movement thereof from such opening, comprising anelongated member having an end portion detachably connected with saidone cover member and projecting therefrom axially in said casing, saidconnection of the elongated member with the one cover member being of acharacter that detachment `thereof is accomplishable by manipulation ofan opposite end portion thereof and said opposite end portion beingdisposed within convenient access for such manipulation by virtue of theother of said openings when the cover memberof such opening is removed,and holding means in said casing between said cover members andreleasably connected between a portion of the casing and said elongatedmember for holding the latter against axial movement toward the oneopening of the one cover member as an expedient for precludingaccidental removal of such cover member.

3. In an air filter structure including a casing wherein there areclosable opposite end spaces, and cover members respectively for closingsaid spaces though removable respectively outwardly therefrom to provideaccess therethrough into the casing; means for releasably retaining oneof said cover members in such association with its one of said spaces,comprising an elongated member having an end portion detachablyconnected with said one cover member and projecting therefrom axially insaid casing, said connection of the elongated member with the one covermember being of a character that detachment thereof is accomplishable bymanipulation of an opposite end portion thereof, and holding means insaid casing between said cover members and pivotally connected with thecasing for manipulation into and from a detachable connection with saidelongated member to hold the same against axial movement toward said onespace of the one cover member as an expedient for precluding accidentalremoval of said one cover member from its said one of such spaces, andsaid holding means and said opposite end portion of the elongated memberbeing disposed for convenient access, for their respective of saidmanipulations, through the space uncovered when said other of said covermembers is removed.

4. In an air filter structure including a casing wherein there aretopiand bottom end openings, and a cover member and a receptacle memberrespectively for and in removable closing association with saidopenings; means for releasably retaining said members in suchassociation with said openings, comprising a rod having a lower endportion in threaded relation with said receptacle member and projectingupwardly in the casing where an upper end portion of such rod isdisposed adjacently to the upper end opening of the casing, holdingmeans supported by and in said casing while reacting upon said upper endportion of the rod to prevent downward displacement thereof andaccidental removal of the receptacle member from the bottom openingwhile facilitating rotation of said rod to release its connection withsaid receptacle member, and means accessible for manipulation exteriorlyof said cover member and cooperable with the upper end portion of therod for releasably retaining the cover member in its association withthe top opening, and said upper end portion of the rod being accessibleat the top opening yfor the application of rotating force to said rodfor rotating the same as aforesaid when the cover member is removed.

5. In an air iilter structure-includinga casing wherein there are topand bottom end openings, and a cover member and a receptacle memberrespectively for and in removable closing association with saidopenings; means -for releasably retaining said members in suchassociation with said openings, comprising a rod having a lower endportion in threaded relation with said receptacle member and projectingupwardly in the casing where an upper end portion of such rod isdisposed adjacently to the upper end opening of the casing,force-receiving means non-rotatively upon and of greater diameter thansaid upper end portion of the rod for manipulation in imparting to saidrod a rotational force for unscrewing it from said receptacle' membertorelease the same. rod-holding means comprising split collar membersembracing the rod below said force-receiving means to prevent downwarddisplacement of the rod and accidental removal of the receptacle memberfrom the bottom opening though being loosely associated with said rod tofacilitate its rotation in effecting the aforesaid unscrewing from thereceptacle member, said holding means also comprising mountsfsupportedon and in said casing for said split collar members and beingmanipulatable in eiecting separation of said collar members to provideclearance taoiliizatingI downward displacement of the rod and of the'force-receiving means therepast pursuant to removal of the receptaclemember, and said fomereceiving means and said .rod-holding means beingdisposed adjacently touthe top opening by means of which they areaccessible for their said manipulations.

WILLIAMO.BECHILAN.

